6 MAY 2016 HIGH-TECH SOLUTION CONVERTS DAIRY EFFLUENT INTO PROFIT A technological first will see a zero-waste farm system implemented into a mid-Canterbury dairy farm that captures cow effluent and converts it into fuel, fertiliser, electricity and high protein feed. The Zeecol system, which developers say will revolutionise New Zealand dairy farming, will enable Kiwi farmers to compete effectively overseas, while dramatically reducing environmental impact and increasing profitably. Founder of Zeecol – and its Canadian closed-cycle cow effluent recycling subsidiary – William Mook (Christchurch) says with dairy payouts at non-profitable levels and farmers facing increased costs to comply with stronger controls on dairy effluent discharge, the system suits barn or feedlot systems. And the system has drawn innovation from biotechnology vendors in America, Europe and Israel, along with space station technology. “We have the technology to cost-effectively contain cow waste and increase productivity,” Mook says. “It’s hard to beat zero impact. There is no odour, no impact to the environment; everything that goes in comes out in a useful form.” With separate components used in isolation around the world, New Zealand is the first country where the complete zero waste system has been synchronised on the farm, Mook says. Through applying this technology to cow effluent, Zeecol has eliminated the need for effluent disposal systems and enabled environmentally proactive waste management. An early adopter of the barn system in New Zealand, Pannetts Dairies in Mid Canterbury, has committed to the Zeecol system. “Using barns enables Pannetts to achieve a profitable, humane and sustainable farming environment that is not possible on a grass fed system,” Mook says. “Cows are more comfortable in a properly built barn, but won’t produce well if they are caged. When cows are given a choice between indoors and out, they opt to spend more time indoors where nutritionally balanced food is continuously on tap, along with rubber bedding mats. They even line up to take turns at the back scratcher.” Mook sees the primary contenders for the system as the top five percent of herds, principally those with barns or feedlots where approximately 90 percent of effluent can be captured. Additionally, the system will appeal to farmers who have issues with meeting waste management compliance. Many Kiwi farmers use a traditional grass fed, twice-a-day milking system where seasonal changes in grass output limit herd nutritional intake and productivity, Mook says. These farmers capture 15 percent of manure at the milking shed, whilst those with feed lots capture another 35 percent. All can benefit from this new technology. In a full barn Zeecol system, farmers get an equivalent of $9,000 of equipment per cow that is invested without the farmer having to pay for it. The system is owned, managed and maintained by Zeecol, and the farmer is charged for the facility’s output at a rate of 80 percent of the comparative fuel/electricity/fertiliser/ feed costs being replaced. Zeecol is accepting applications from New Zealand dairy farmers with barn or feedlot systems through zeecol.com. NEWS SNIPS MORE THAN half of New Zealand businesses are not prepared for a major cyber crime, according to PWC’s 2016 Global Economic Crime Survey. Around 55% say they don’t have an incident plan, or have one that doesn’t work yet. KANSAS STATE University meat scientists have found that the brand name on grocery store beef makes a difference to consumers when it hits the dinner table. Consumers rated steak and mince higher for flavour, texture, juiciness and tenderness when the packaging included the terms ‘certified Angus’ beef, ‘Augus’ or ‘USDA prime’. IN A SHORT span of one year, a quarter of US consumers say they are ordering less sugary drinks in restaurants, which London-based market research firm Mintel says shows the difficulty faced by the entire soda industry. N E W S BEETROOT: Leicester City, the toast of the football world, are crediting their remarkable English Premier League win to beetroot. Along with taking beetroot shots as a performance enhancer, the team regularly drank beetroot juice which has been credited with decreasing muscle soreness caused by vigorous exercise via an anti-inflammatory process. It is also believed that nitrates in beetroot can lower blood pressure and increase stamina. Leicester players suffered the fewest injuries in the league, and used fewer players than any other club this season. Exeter University researchers recently tested beetroot juice on sportspeople from rugby, hockey and football, and found those who had consumed the nitrate-rich beet saw an improvement in both sprint performance and speed of decision-making. Denmark Chews Over Carbon Tax on Food: Following research that suggests consumers need to be pushed rather than nudged towards ethical diets, Denmark is considering taxing food to tackle climate change, given that the sector (particularly livestock) accounts for the bulk Continued on page 7 >>
FT-May16
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